Things Happen

The introduction to Things Happen discusses the homogenising effect of Sheffield’s “big wheel” being awarded Best Visitor Attraction by a glossy listings magazine. This lament sets the tone for the rest of the zine, which couldn’t be further from a city rag. You won’t find simpering reviews of cocktail bars in its pages; instead, Things Happen presents a considered appraisal of urban growth at its best and worst; how architecture functions within the landscape, and how idealized designs can often impede the community using them. Produced by the Manchester Municipal Design Corporation, there is an emphasis on cultural developments within Manchester itself — for example, the regeneration of the canal, and music recommendations from local successes Mazes — but the range of topics spans far beyond the rainy city. And you’ll be happy to hear it’s free.